Pubs on Aarbergergasse, gigs and parties at the Reitschule, gin from the Matte and the Aare in summer: here's how to put together your own stag do or hen party in Bern and pick your things to do.
Good to know
At Attika Bar a beer (30 cl) costs CHF 5.50–6, classic cocktails CHF 16–22. Parties at the Gaskessel usually cost CHF 15–20 in advance. At the Dachstock you pay cash only. All guide prices.
All costs and money-saving tips ↓On Fridays and Saturdays the Moonliner buses leave the station every 30 minutes from 01:15 to 03:45, with no surcharge. At 03:00 a night train runs towards Zurich. Taxi: 031 331 33 13 or 031 371 11 11.
Moonliner timetable ↗In the canton of Bern, bars and restaurants close at 00:30 at the latest. Clubs and some bars have extended-hours permits until 03:30 or 05:00; Stellwerk, Taxi Bar and Maison, for example, until 03:30.
Peeing in public costs CHF 140, disturbing the peace at night CHF 90, littering CHF 80. There are no lifeguards on the Aare, and the weir by the Schwellenmätteli is off limits. In an inflatable boat, life jackets are compulsory.
From Zurich in 57 minutes, from Basel in 56 to 58, from Lucerne in 60 minutes, from Geneva in 1 hour 55. Long-distance coaches stop at the Neufeld coach terminal, from where bus 11 takes 8 minutes to the station.
During the BEA at the end of April and start of May, and during the four parliamentary sessions in March, June, September and December, the city is full. Book early if your weekend falls on one of them.
In July the average daytime high is 24.6 °C, and June to August are the sunniest months. Plan B: escape rooms by the station, bowling in the Marzili, mini golf at Rollers or the hammam in the old gasometer.
Bernese German counts the number two by gender: “zwe Manne, zwo Froue, zwoi Ching” (two men, two women, two children). And in Switzerland a Polterabend is usually just called a Junggesellenabschied, a stag or hen do; hardly anyone smashes crockery any more.
Plan & map
Bars, clubs, breweries and activities on one map: filter by type, add your favourites with “+ Add to plan” and share the plan with your group via a link, no account needed. Rather have a ready-made schedule? The itinerary generator builds one for you.
Bern activities by type: click an idea and the list and map show only what matches.
Escape rooms on Bollwerk, on Laupenstrasse and on Waisenhausplatz, plus the Foxtrail scavenger hunt.
Laser tag at Westside, bowling in the Marzili and mini golf with a bar at Rollers.
A brewery tour in the Felsenau, a self-service beer tap at the Altes Tramdepot and a gin tasting in the Matte.
A cocktail challenge at Kurt&Kurt on Aarbergergasse or a cocktail class at the Matte Brennerei.
Into the Aare at the Marzili in summer, and into the hammam in the old gasometer all year round.
Up on the Gurtenbahn funicular, with a toboggan run from March to October.
Consoles, board games and karaoke in the gaming lounge above the station.
Small Irish pub on two floors on Kramgasse with more than 11 draught beers, live sport and live music. Open until 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, closed on Mondays. From October to April there's also a cellar pub. Enquiries by email.
Beer café in the Old Town with a big, changing selection on draught and in bottles; the beer list is online. Open Thursday to Saturday until 00:30, closed on Sundays. The room is small, so groups should book early via the form.
Irish pub on Aarbergergasse with live sport, music and pub food with burgers. Book online for up to 12 people, larger groups by email. From 7 people there's only one bill for the table, and booked tables are held for 15 minutes.
Bistro, bar and arts venue in the PROGR with gigs, DJ nights and performances, until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. In the evening there are Bern beers, classic cocktails and sharing plates. Bookings at lunchtime only; in the evening just turn up.
English pub on a quiet side street, around 2 minutes from the main station. Draught beer from England and Ireland, food, sport on TV and seats outside. According to the owners, the oldest pub in the city. Check the opening hours first.
Café bar in the Lorraine with brunch, a weekly menu, music and a flea market on the terrace. Open Tuesday to Saturday until 23:30, Sundays until 17:00, closed on Mondays. Groups get in touch by email or phone; there's no online booking system.
Italian venue from the Bindella group: a caffè and wine bar downstairs, a restaurant and rooms for private events upstairs. The bar is open Thursday to Saturday until 00:30, and the terrace is in the courtyard. Book banquets for groups via the website.
Classic bar in a typical Bernese vaulted cellar at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 50, cocktails from A to Z, plus 32 gins, 20 single malts and 15 rums. Open until 01:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, otherwise until 00:30. Enquiries on +41 79 751 59 32.
Cocktail bar on Rathausgasse that calls itself an “institute for progressive drinking”, with classics, its own creations and lots of Negroni variations. According to OpenStreetMap, open until 02:30 on Fridays and Saturdays and over-21s only. Big groups should be flexible.
Wine bar belonging to a wine merchant, around 2 minutes from the station. Open Tuesday to Friday until 22:00, Saturdays only until 16:00, closed on Sundays. Private events for up to 70 people; book tables online, by phone or by email.
Neighbourhood bar in the middle of the Lorraine, entrance via Talweg, open Thursday to Saturday from 18:00 to 00:30. Groups book tables or the lower part of the bar. Outside opening hours you can hire the bar for your own events.
Neighbourhood pub with a gig cellar in the Lorraine, open until 00:30, closed on Sundays. In the cellar there are gigs, DJ sets and quiz nights, entry usually CHF 10–25 on the door. You can hire the cellar for about 80 people standing, and for 45 people or more also for longer.
Arthouse cinema, restaurant and bar right on the Aare in the Matte. The bar is open until 22:00 on Thursdays and Fridays, and on Saturdays from 11:30. There are Kulino nights with a film and food; ask about rooms for events by email.
Venue under the roof of the Reitschule, roughly half gigs and half parties, with a programme that changes every night. Advance tickets via petzi.ch. Cash only at the door and at the bar; photos and filming are banned.
Gig and party venue with a big Art Nouveau hall, plus Gustavs Bar and a beer garden. Themed parties usually start at 23:00, over-18s, about CHF 17 in advance and CHF 23 on the door. You can hire Gustavs Bar for up to 100 people.
Youth and arts centre in the old gas reservoirs right on the Aare. Parties start at 23:00, about CHF 20 in advance, CHF 25 on the door. For the Club Quiz you book a table for 6 for CHF 75. The Moonliner stops outside.
Bern's oldest surviving music club, founded as an association in 1968, by the Bear Park. It plays blues, rock, funk, soul, Latin and jazz, plus open mic and salsa nights. Doors open 45 minutes before the gig starts; request seats when you book.
Bar and club in the Reitschule on Neubrückstrasse with gigs and DJ nights from deep house through techno to trance. Depending on the night it gets going between 21:30 and 23:59; the programme is online. Good as a stop before the Dachstock.
Club, bistro and rooms for hire on the 3rd floor, 2 minutes' walk from the platform by lift. Club parties usually run from 22:00 to 03:30, advance tickets about CHF 12–25. The bistro has quiz and games nights, about CHF 20 per team of 4.
Jazz club in the Hotel Innere Enge with 130 seats, with two gigs a night Tuesday to Saturday from September to March. The programme changes weekly between jazz, blues, gospel and soul. About 6 minutes on bus 21 from the station.
Café, bar and, from Thursday, club on Theaterplatz, until 03:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. On club nights: over-21s, men from 23, no groups of men. For hen groups and mixed groups there are lounge tables to book; payment is cashless.
Arts cellar on Spitalgasse with clubbing, live acts, theatre, comedy and readings. On club nights such as the drum'n'bass series, doors open at 22:00; check the programme first. The cellar can be hired for events.
Bar and club a few steps from the station, Fridays and Saturdays from 20:00 to 03:30, over-18s. There's a big whisky selection, beers and cocktails. For private events such as a stag or hen do there's a dedicated DJ on request.
7 escape rooms on Laupenstrasse, a few minutes from the station, 2 to 6 players each, 60 minutes. During the week CHF 36–54 per person. There's a dedicated stag and hen offer for 12 to 49 people, and the operator asks you to arrive relatively sober.
Bowling centre in the Marzili, open until 01:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. A game costs CHF 8 per person, CHF 9 from 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, plus CHF 2.50 for shoes. Groups of about 15 or more pay CHF 50 per lane per hour including shoes.
Outdoor pool on the Aare with free entry, roughly from the end of May to mid-September. Here the Aare is a river bath with no lifeguards, for strong swimmers only. Next to it are a 50 m pool and the Bueberseeli. It's 10 minutes' walk from the station.
6 escape rooms on Bollwerk, 60 minutes each, most for 2 to 6 players, the “Magic Duel” for up to 12. All rooms can be booked online, are air-conditioned and can be played in German and English, with no horror. Plus outdoor games around the city.
Gaming lounge on the 3rd floor above the station, via the Schanze lift towards platform 13. PC gaming, consoles, board games and karaoke, open until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Book via the website.
Small distillery in the Matte with a 1,000-litre copper still for gin and absinthe. The gin tasting takes about 1 hour for 8 to 50 people, CHF 29 per person from 9 people. The cocktail class costs CHF 89; book in advance, Monday to Saturday.
Indoor mini golf with a bar, with holes modelled on film classics. Online a round costs CHF 20 per person and takes 60 to 90 minutes. Groups of 5 to 100 people book packages at CHF 35, 55 or 75 per person by phone or email.
8 escape rooms in Bern, 3 to 6 players each, many also as a duel for 6 to 12, with room for up to 90 people in total. For stag and hen dos there's Bachelor Party MiSSiONS with 18 tasks in the city centre. Bookings online only.
Laser tag arena and team battle zone at Westside. For 8 to 14 people, Team Battle with laser tag costs CHF 45 per person, 90 to 120 minutes. For 15 to 60 people there's Team Battle Light for CHF 34.90. You can add sparkling wine and shots.
Cocktail class as a team challenge on Aarbergergasse: in small groups you recreate 3 to 4 cocktails, and the bartender crowns the best team. About 2 hours for 8 to 20 people, CHF 75 per person plus VAT. Plus around 250 whiskies.
Oriental hammam over four floors in the octagonal foundations of Switzerland's first gasometer. The hammam ritual costs CHF 53, and from 19:00 there's evening entry for CHF 45. Entry from age 16, walk-ins without a booking, guaranteed if you book a treatment.
Scavenger hunt with puzzles through Bern for groups of up to 24 people. Trail Granit starts in the station and leads over the Aare, past the Bear Park and through the Matte to the Zytglogge, 2.5 to 3.5 hours, CHF 32 per person. Stag and hen dos can be booked as an occasion.
The Gurtenbahn funicular takes 5 minutes from Wabern up Bern's local mountain, tickets from CHF 3.50. At the top there's a 500 m toboggan run, CHF 5 per ride, from March to October, which groups of 10 to 50 can also hire exclusively. Two restaurants, with bookings.
The city's oldest independent brewery, on the Aare since 1881. Tour with a tasting for CHF 20 per person, Monday to Friday starting between 16:00 and 18:00, for 8 to 40 people. Closed shoes are compulsory, and weisswurst sausages are served.
Historic dining hall on Kornhausplatz with room for 700 people, bookable as a table, an alcove or the whole room. From 15 people there's a set menu, ordered in advance. The bar in the cellar is open until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Fondue and raclette restaurant using only AOP cheese, with more than 200 Swiss wines. The fondue menu with salad and air-dried meat costs CHF 45–49 per person. Open daily from 11:00 to 23:00; book tables online.
Brewpub by the Bear Park with 5 to 6 of its own beers. For groups there's the 3-litre self-service beer column from CHF 49.50 and the 5-litre keg from CHF 80. Banquets in the hall for up to 80 people, and a tour with a tasting on the last Wednesday of the month.
Restaurant above the Aare: in the pavilion you can see the water through an opening in the wooden floor. Next door there's a chicken restaurant and, in season, a fondue hut. The event room holds up to 200 guests for aperitifs and banquets. Daily until 23:30 from April to September.
Restaurant in the Rosengarten a few steps from the Bear Park, with a view of the Old Town, a terrace and a fondue veranda. Up to 20 people eat à la carte; from 20 people it serves a set menu. Book by phone or online.
Restaurant in the Reitschule arts centre, run as a collective, with local and international food, including vegan and gluten-free. Open Wednesday to Saturday, until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Book by phone or email at least 2 days ahead.
Co-operative pub in the Lorraine, open Tuesday to Sunday until 22:30, kitchen until 21:30, closed on Mondays. Its own programme includes brunch, games tournaments and gigs. You can hire the small room (Sääli) for events.
French brasserie in the former customs house opposite the Bärengraben bear pit, daily until 23:30, hot food all day until 22:15. On the menu: moules, bouillabaisse and entrecôte. Book online at least 24 hours ahead; banquets on request.
Wine restaurant over two floors on Klösterlistutz with more than 120 wines, mostly biodynamic. Open Monday to Saturday until 23:30, Sundays until 22:00, with brunch at weekends. Book tables online; celebrations and winemaker evenings are on offer.
Restaurant in the Dampfzentrale arts centre in the Marzili, right on the Aare with a terrace and its own beer from the Berner Lohnbrauerei. Open Monday to Saturday until 23:30. In winter there's a winter tent; events by booking.
On this tour you walk through Bern's Old Town to the places linked to famous Swiss chocolate makers and taste your way from Toblerone to Lindt with a tasting box. A sweet, weatherproof item under the arcades that even the toughest stag group will enjoy. Meeting point at the Käfigturm; book in advance.
Guided walk through Bern's Old Town, where a local tells you the city's stories and legends and you try typical Bern specialities and drinks you won't find anywhere else. A relaxed small-group programme for the afternoon that brings the group together before you hit the bars in the evening. Book in advance; slots are limited.
A version of the chocolate tour where you taste liqueurs as well as chocolate: sweet and strong at the same time, so just right for a group that wants something stronger with its chocolate. A relaxed start to the day that gets you in the mood straight away. Secure places in good time.
Guided walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, where a local shows you the arcades, fountains, the Bear Park and the city's best stories. A solid item to settle in, which gets the whole group on board and shows you where things are happening in the evening. Book in advance.
Guided tour up Bern's landmark, the Zytglogge, with a look at the golden clockwork and the figure show, and a magnificent view over the city and the Alps. A short, worthwhile item to fit in between, which delivers great group photos. Book slots in advance, as the tower only takes small groups.
In two hours you wander through Bern's lively markets in a small group and taste your way through Swiss classics such as cheese and air-dried meat. A relaxed, down-to-earth daytime programme for groups who want to get to know Bern through their stomachs before moving on in the evening. Book in advance.
Compact guided walk through the medieval Old Town with its towers, fountains and arcades, and 800 years of city history explained by a local. A cheap, quick item to start with if the group doesn't want to spend too much of the day on it. Secure places in advance.
Self-guided tour where you explore Bern at your group's own pace via an app and tick off the Old Town's highlights, with no fixed start time. A flexible, cheap daytime programme for groups who'd rather set their own pace and beer breaks. Book directly and get going straight away.
Full-day tour from Bern into the region: cheese tasting in Gruyères and all the chocolate you can eat at Maison Cailler. The foodie day out for groups who want to get out of the city and tick off Swiss clichés at their best. Booking in advance is required; the meeting point is in Bern.
Meeting point under the Zytglogge, the clock tower with a clockwork from 1530. The figure show with the rooster, the jester and the procession of bears starts 4 minutes before every hour. Tower tours take 1 hour, for 19 people at most, booked in advance.
Meeting point at Bern station. From here the escape rooms on Bollwerk and Laupenstrasse are a few minutes away, and the Marzili baths a 10-minute walk. On Fridays and Saturdays the Moonliner buses leave from here until 03:45.
Bundesplatz in front of the Federal Palace, with its water feature of 26 fountains, one for each canton. From spring to autumn it runs daily from 11:00 to 23:00, with a break in winter. Bärenplatz is right next door.
Guide prices excluding travel, food & accommodation. Check the provider for today's prices.
🗺️ Open route in Google MapsNeighbourhoods
The Old Town, the Reitschule, the Matte and the Bear Park are all within walking distance of each other. On Fridays and Saturdays the Moonliner buses run until 03:45.
For a pub, a cocktail class and a club
On Aarbergergasse, McCarthy's shows live sport, and at Kurt&Kurt you mix 3 to 4 cocktails as a team challenge. On Speichergasse, Taxi Bar has DJs until 03:30, and on Theaterplatz Maison opens its club from Thursday, but not for groups of men and only for over-21s.
For cellar bars and a beer café
On Kramgasse, Old City pours more than 11 draught beers, and Au Trappiste keeps changing its beer list. On Rathausgasse, Department 66 mixes Negroni variations, and on Gerechtigkeitsgasse the abflugbar sits in a typical vaulted cellar with 32 gins.
For gigs and parties
In the Reitschule you eat at Sous le Pont, the Cafete gets going with DJs from 21:30, and the Dachstock alternates gigs and parties, cash only. By the station, the Stellwerk is on the 3rd floor, with club parties until 03:30 and quiz nights in the bistro for CHF 20 per team of 4.
For a party on the Aare and gin
Right on the Aare is the Gaskessel, with parties from 23:00. At the Schwellenmätteli you can see the water through the floor, and the Cinématte combines a cinema, restaurant and bar. In the Matte, the Matte Brennerei distils gin; book the gin tasting for 8 to 50 people in advance.
For neighbourhood bars and a gig cellar
In the Lorraine, Zoo Bar is open Thursday to Saturday, and Café Kairo has gigs and quizzes in the cellar. Wartsaal does brunch and music, and the Brasserie Lorraine is run as a co-operative and hires out a small room for events. It's closed on Mondays.
For a brewpub and a music club
By the Bear Park you pour your own beer from the tap column at the Altes Tramdepot, and opposite, the Brasserie Bärengraben cooks moules and entrecôte. On Klösterlistutz, Klösterli stocks more than 120 wines, and next door Mahogany Hall has been playing blues to jazz since 1968, with open mic and salsa.
Sample itinerary
This is what a weekend that works in Bern looks like, with a different focus depending on your group. You'll find every venue in the planner above, where you can swap out individual stops.
Self-service beer tap by the Bear Park.
More than 11 draught beers on Kramgasse.
Bar and club on Speichergasse until 03:30.
Adventure Dome at Westside, a team battle with laser tag.
Cocktail challenge on Aarbergergasse.
Dinner in the Reitschule.
Gig or party, cash only.
Matte Brennerei; book in advance.
Dinner and more than 120 wines on Klösterlistutz.
Club on Theaterplatz, over-21s.
Hammam ritual in the old gasometer.
Scavenger hunt from the station to the Zytglogge.
Fondue with AOP cheese.
Cocktails in a vaulted cellar.
Historic dining hall, set menu from 15 people.
Gig at the Hotel Innere Enge, September to March.
Up on the Gurtenbahn, toboggan run March to October.
Figure show and a tower tour, booked in advance.
Dinner with a view of the Old Town.
Your group's a bit different? The itinerary generator builds a plan around your group, budget and mood, using the same venues.
Budget
Beer costs CHF 5.50–6 for 30 cl in bars, and parties usually CHF 15–25 entry. Escape rooms, bowling, laser tag and a brewery cost between CHF 8 and 59 per person.
| Option | Per person | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| One night out | €55–120 | brewery or fondue, bars, club |
| A day with an activity | €90–185 | plus an escape room, laser tag, bowling or a brewery tour |
| Weekend | €200–450 | two nights out, one activity, one night in a double room, travel not included |
Guide prices per person, based on the prices of the venues and tours on this page. The bride or groom usually doesn't pay; their share is split across the group. The planner above adds up what your programme costs.
All prices in euros, converted at the ECB rate of 9 October 2026. Travel isn't included, as that depends on where you're coming from. Accommodation is based on the country's price level. Work out your own budget with the cost calculator.
Seasonal tips
These festivals, markets and fairs come round every year. If your weekend falls on one of them, the city will be full.
Bern's carnival: three days from Thursday to Saturday, in February or March.
On a Friday in March, from 18:00 to 02:00.
Ten-day consumer fair at the BERNEXPO grounds from the end of April to the start of May.
In July on Bern's local mountain; trams and Moonliner buses then run round the clock.
Three days of street music across the whole Old Town in August.
Bern's biggest market, the onion market, on the fourth Monday in November; selling often starts as early as 04:00.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, with arcades and cellar bars.
Open round the clock 365 days a year, and the inclined lift is free.
Bern's car-free local mountain, reached on the Gurtenbahn from Wabern.
Questions
